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Alcázar
Just south off Zocodover square, at the highest point in the city, looms Toledo's most recognisable edifice, the Alcázar. Abd ar-Rahman III raised an al-qasr (fortress) here in the 10th century, which was altered after the Christians retook the town in the following century.
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Cable Ferry
For great views, get the tiny, free cable ferry in summer from near Hotel El Diamantista, and walk up the opposite bank of Río Tajo. Scattered about this hinterland are many cigarrales (country estates of wealthy toledanos ).
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Catedral de Toledo
Toledo's cathedral dominates the skyline, reflecting the city's historical significance as the heart of Catholic Spain.
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Centro de Interpretación
The city's latest attraction is this excellent Centro de Interpretación comprising an expansive audio-visual display covering a rambling 800 sq metres. The surrounding exhibits highlight the cultural and religious history of the city with models, photos, soundtrack and film. Currently the explanations are only in Spanish, however there are plans to introduce English audioguides in the near future.
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Circo Romano
From Puerta Nueva de Bisagra, down the hill to the west, is a park where you can see the ruins of the former Circo Romano.
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Iglesia de Santo Tomé
The exceptional paintings of El Greco are among the most popular of Toledo's sights and they adorn many of the monuments across town. Iglesia de Santo Tomé is a must-see, containing El Greco's masterpiece, El Entierro del Conde de Orgaz (The Burial of the Count of Orgaz). When the count, a 14th-century benefactor of the church, was buried in 1322, Sts Augustine and Stephen supposedly descended from heaven to attend the funeral.
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Jewish Quarter
Near the Museo de El Greco is what was once the judería (Jewish Quarter). 'Once' because, as a huge plaque in the cathedral proudly proclaims, the bulk of Toledo's Jews, like those elsewhere in Spain, were expelled in 1492. In the centuries prior to this, Toledo's Jews worshipped in 11 synagogues.
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Mezquita de Cristo de la Luz
Though architectural traces of Toledo's medieval Muslim conquerors remain, there's little that is specifically Moorish. On the northern slopes of town you'll find the Mezquita de Cristo de la Luz, a modest mosque which is nonetheless quite beautiful. Built at the turn of the 1st millennium, it suffered the usual fate of being converted to a church - as the religious frescoes make clear.
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Monasterio de Santo Domingo El Antiguo
One of the oldest convents in Toledo, the Monasterio de Santo Domingo El Antiguo dates from the 11th century and includes some of El Greco's early commissions (most are copies). Visible through an iron grating is the crypt and wooden coffin of the painter himself.
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Museo de El Greco
After a long apprenticeship in Crete, where he was born in 1541, Domenikos Theotokopoulos (El Greco) moved to Venice in 1567 to be schooled as a Renaissance artist. He learned to extract the maximum effect from few colours, concentrating the observer's interest in the faces of his portraits and leaving the rest in relative obscurity; a characteristic that remained one of his hallmarks.
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Museo de los Concilios y Cultura Visigoda
The Iglesia de San Román is an impressive hybrid of Mudéjar and Renaissance styles and home to the Museo de los Concilios y Cultura Visigoda, with Visigothic artefacts.
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Museo de Santa Cruz
Just outside what were once the Arab city walls, the Museo de Santa Cruz was built in the early 16th century and is a beguiling combination of Gothic and Spanish Renaissance styles. The cloisters and carved wooden ceilings are superb, as are the upstairs displays of ceramics from across Spain.
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Museo Duque de Lerma
The one-time Hospital de Tavera now houses the Museo Duque de Lerma. Built in 1541, it contains an interesting array of art, including some of El Greco's last paintings.
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Plaza de Zocodover
This lively square is most people's introduction to Toledo; its cafés are prime places for people-watching.
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Puente de Alcántara
For some of the best views of the city, head over the Puente de Alcántara to the other side of the Río Tajo.
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Puerta Nueva de Bisagra
Large portions of the old city walls remain intact and, for many people, the first sight of old Toledo is the imposing turrets of the Puerta Nueva de Bisagra (1550), emblazoned with Carlos I's coat of arms.
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San Juan de los Reyes
This Franciscan monastery and church is one of the more light-filled churches in Toledo and notable for its delightful cloisters.
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Sinagoga de Santa María La Blanca
Sinagoga de Santa María La Blanca is characterised by the horseshoe arches that delineate the five naves - classic Almohad architecture. Originally the upper arches opened onto rooms where women worshipped; the men worshipped down below.
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Sinagoga del Tránsito & Museo Sefardi
Of the two synagogues still standing in the Jewish Quarter, the more interesting is Sinagoga del Tránsito & Museo Sefardi, built in 1355 by special permission of Pedro I (construction of synagogues was by then prohibited in Christian Spain), though its main prayer hall has since been expertly restored. The Mudéjar decoration is particularly striking. From 1492 until 1877 it was variously used as a priory, hermitage and military barracks.
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Showing 1-19 of 19 results
